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Good morning. Welcome to the 2003 WEAC Representative Assembly. Thank you for giving up a weekend to help shape the future of WEAC and our profession.
We are at a critical juncture. What we do today has far-reaching and long-term impact. Today, we … no one else… chart the future of great schools, great teachers, and great staff. The issues are many, but we are up to the task. The active involvement and advocacy of all members is our goal.
I know I can count on you! Listen… and get on the edge of your seat… we are about to wake up our enemies and our friends.
There's a saying that applies to all our struggles: "There is no
elevator to success. You have to take the stairs."
The work we do as a union… as great teachers and great staff for
Wisconsin's great schools… is not easy or fast. We will reach our
goals… but it's a long and difficult climb…one step at a time.
Put on your climbing shoes, friends. Our union is on the move.
QEO
One goal that has remained out of our reach for a long time is repeal
of the Qualified Economic Offer law. The reality is that we have not had
a Legislature that would pass a QEO repeal bill… or a governor who
would sign the bill.
But last fall we took a huge stride up those steps when we helped elect
the first pro-public education governor this state has seen in 16 long
years. And that governor - Governor Doyle - came through by putting into
his budget a provision that repeals this terrible law.
As a result of your hard work, our goal is now within reach. We've come
a long way up these stairs, and we are not going back down! We are going
forward, we are going up, we are going to succeed! The QEO must go!
The law has inflicted severe harm on our members and Wisconsin's great schools. It has caused nothing but misery in the last ten years. I know there is a belief among some that the QEO protects you. Let me state this clearly once and for all: The QEO is a bad law that harms WEAC members. It protects no one. It is putting our great schools in jeopardy. It is forcing our quality teachers out of the profession. It is causing salary stagnation at best - and an actual loss of compensation at worst.
We have statistics and we have personal stories about the damage the
QEO has inflicted on members and our great schools.
If statistics don't convince you of the impact of the QEO, here are some stories about its effect on your colleagues around the state. It may not be Halloween, but there are plenty of horror stories:
And the list goes on. This room is filled with people who can tell similar
stories. It is a terrible law, and it must go now.
Many of our members and the public misunderstand this law. Let me clarify some of those misperceptions:
In other words, the QEO is completely one-sided. In the bargaining scenario,
it gives school boards everything. It gives teachers nothing. It gives
schools nothing. It gives students nothing. It's an affront to public
education. It's an affront to collective bargaining. And it's an affront
to you as an educator and as a human being.
The QEO punishes the very people in this state who deserve to be rewarded
… rewarded for their hard work, their dedication and, above all,
their success in building one of the nation's best systems of public education.
Wisconsin's public schools feature the most qualified, dedicated and
experienced teachers and education support professionals in the nation
- you. You are directly responsible for our great schools. You are the
best educators in the nation, and you have earned the right to fair compensation
for your talent and dedication. You produce the best, and you deserve
the best!
Our great schools are in jeopardy because of the QEO. A quality teacher
shortage is looming in Wisconsin. Every kid deserves a great school and
a great teacher. The QEO is discouraging young people from entering the
teaching profession. The QEO is forcing people out of the profession.
The QEO is forcing experienced teachers to retire early. You can drive
50 miles to another state and earn significantly more money. Your retirement
benefits decline the longer you remain in the profession. The choice becomes
clear for many people. They are forced to leave a profession they love.
Wisconsin's great teachers and staff are one of the state's best resources.
The QEO is evaporating Wisconsin's quality education work force…
like a drought evaporating lakes and rivers.
The time is here. We cannot wait any longer. The future of our profession
is at stake. The QEO must be repealed in this budget.
Have you seen the ad on TV for a cellular telephone service? The one
where the technician travels around asking people if they can hear him?
He says, "Can you hear me now?"
I'm asking all of the people who oppose repealing the QEO if they can
hear us today as we say, "The QEO must go now." I need your
help on this - let me hear you: The QEO must go!
Do you think they heard us? I think they will hear us loud and clear in the next few weeks.
Let me be clear: this is a difficult fight. The stairs are steep. Our
opponents are doing everything they can to stop us. We are asking you
to take some actions today - and when you return home next week. You'll
hear about those requests later - and I urge you to follow through on
them. Your advocacy will make all the difference.
We are near the top of the stairs. But these last few steps are the steepest. This is the time we have to reach deep down inside of ourselves and pull out that extra few ounces of energy to get this done, once and for all. We will all be thankful we did, and so will future generations of children, and future generations of educators - educators who can live in an environment in which the education professions are finally respected and fairly rewarded - that is a world without the QEO.
Health care cost crisis
The QEO is not the only threat to our well-being. Wisconsin and the nation
are in the middle of health care cost crisis. Let me emphasize: this is
a health care cost crisis… not a health care benefits crisis.
Our enemies are using this crisis as a front for cheating us out of even
more of our rights.
Our enemies have planted the misconception that we have "Cadillac"
or "Rolls Royce" benefits. In truth, we have Chevy plans…
and those who have seen an erosion in benefits now have Yugos.
The solution is not to pull everyone down… it is to raise everyone
up.
Why is this important to us? Just ask your colleagues who already are taking pay cuts to cover rising health care costs. WEA Trust CEO Al Jacobs tells us that at the current rate, a person's health care expenses will exceed his or her wages within 20 years. This crisis threatens our way of life, and we must begin to make drastic changes to the system, starting right now.
Revenue controls/school funding
State-imposed revenue controls and a flawed school funding system are
making the QEO and health care cost crises even worse. Educational employees
throughout the state are getting layoff notices this spring. And many
school districts are eliminating important academic programs, increasing
class sizes and closing schools, sometimes forcing children to take agonizing
long bus rides to school.
This worsening situation is developing into a major crisis in our schools.
Wisconsin must eliminate revenue caps. We must change the school funding
formula to make it more fair and to stop the pay disparities our members
in small school districts are seeing.
This goal cannot be accomplished immediately. Wisconsin is facing its
worst budget deficit in history. Governor Doyle recognizes the need to
change the system, and he is doing what he can under impossible economic
circumstances. He will appoint a commission to take a long-term look at
the issues and develop a solution.
The commission must not be a debate over how much to restrict our members'
compensation. It must be a debate over how to adequately fund public education
for Wisconsin children.
WEAC will work with the governor to make sure our members are represented
on that commission. The future of public education in Wisconsin will be
decided by the people in that group.
ESEA
The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act… the so-called
the No Child Left Behind Act … is also threatening our great schools,
great teachers, and great staff.
ESEA does not measure up to our values and to what we know works for
kids. It is made up of impossible, nonsensical federal policy.
The ESEA actually does leave children behind by providing punishment rather than help to those in greatest need.
WEAC is working diligently to protect our great schools, teachers, and
staff from the effects of this terrible law. We are working with the Department
of Public Instruction and the National Education Association. We have
formed a cadre of members to educate people throughout the state about
the law. We are developing recommendations for bargaining under this new
law.
You, as leaders, also have a role to inform members; bargain language
to minimize the impact of the law; inform parents and your communities
about the changes; and communicate with members of Congress.
We also are fighting for our brothers and sisters in Council 1. They
have worked two-plus years without a wage increase. As we climb the steps
toward our goals, we must climb alongside our state worker colleagues.
For the last six months, WEAC has used its political influence to help
Council 1 members win their contract rights. Within days, the Legislature
will be voting to approve these contracts. All of us must be there. The
Legislature must hear us again. I am asking you to speak up and support
our Council 1 members. Can I count on you? I know I can.
We also need to support our colleagues who work for technical colleges.
The Joint Finance Committee has severely cut WTCS funding. We cannot stand
for that.
Our sisters and brothers in the technical college system provide a vital
service that benefits everyone in our state. Please speak up and support
our WTCS members. I know I can count on you.
Conclusion
The tasks ahead may seem overwhelming. We have a steep climb ahead of us… but we are making progress. We are asking a lot of you… but the effort will be worthwhile. History is made when common people force those in power to make the right decisions.
We are doing the right thing.
What we want is simple:
We have earned our respect… and we will not be denied.
Tell them one more time and make them hear it loud and clear: Citizens
of Wisconsin, business leaders, politicians: Can you hear us now?
"The QEO must go!"
"The QEO must go!"
Resource page on 2003 WEAC Representative Assembly
Posted May 3, 2003